Garmin OS Maps: Should You Download Them or Buy a Map Card?
The download looks cheaper. Is it?
Garmin has put up the price of its map cards but not its downloads. Here is what each option really costs, and what you give up.
If you want Ordnance Survey mapping on your Garmin handheld, you have two ways to get it. You can download it from Garmin, or you can buy it on a micro SD card.
Garmin has just increased (1st October 2026) the price of its UK and overseas map cards. The price of the direct download has stayed the same. On the face of it, that makes the download the obvious choice. Let's look at whether it is.
⚡ Quick Answer: if you already own a GPS and just want the maps, the Garmin download is the cheaper upfront price. If you are buying a new handheld, the GPS Training bundle (maps on a micro SD card with your unit) is cheaper than the download and gives you more flexibility.
The Two Options Explained
Option 1: Download from Garmin
- You buy the map from Garmin and download it to your unit.
- It needs a micro SD card to store it. For these maps, a 32GB card is the size to budget for.
- The map is tied to the unit it was downloaded onto.
Option 2: Buy a map card
- The map arrives preloaded on a micro SD card.
- You drop the card in and go.
- The map is on the card, not locked to one unit's memory.
💡 Did You Know? The download price does not include the card. A decent 32GB SanDisk micro SD card comes in at just under £20 on Amazon. Add that to your budget.
What You Will Actually Pay
TOPO Great Britain PRO 1:25K v3 2024 (includes OS Full GB 1:250K, 1:50K and 1:25K)
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Garmin download (Garmin) | £349.99, plus about £20 for a micro SD card = about £369.99 |
| Garmin map card, RRP (Garmin) | £419.99 |
| GPS Training map card | £399.99 |
| GPS Training bundle (map card bundled with a GPS unit) | £320.00 |
TOPO Great Britain PRO v3 (2024) 1:50K
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Garmin download (Garmin) | £149.99, plus about £20 for a micro SD card = about £169.99 |
| Garmin map card, RRP (Garmin) | £219.99 |
| GPS Training map card | £199.99 |
| GPS Training bundle (map card bundled with a GPS unit) | £135.00 |
The bundle saves you money.
On the 1:25K map, £320.00 is £29.99 less than the Garmin download alone, and about £49.99 less once you have bought the card the download needs.
On the 1:50K map, £135.00 is £14.99 less than the download, and about £34.99 less with the card.
👍 Good to Know: if you only want a map card for a unit you already own, the Garmin download is cheaper than any card on its own.
The card wins when you buy it with a new unit, or when you value the points below. We would rather tell you that than have you find out later.
Four Reasons the Card Can Be the Smarter Buy
-
Downloaded maps are tied to one unit. If you upgrade your GPS down the line, the maps stay with the old one.
-
Warranty swaps can wipe your maps. It does not happen often, but if a unit is replaced under warranty, downloaded maps on it are lost. You may then be in a battle with Garmin to get another download.
-
You still need to buy a card. The download needs a micro SD card, so the real download price is higher than the headline.
- The price gap is closing. With Garmin raising card prices and holding downloads, the bundle is where the value is now.
A Simple Way To Think About It: a download is like a ticket booked in your name. It is yours, but only you can use it, and if you lose the phone it was on, you are back at the counter.
A map card is like a paper map in your rucksack. You can hand it on, swap it between kit, and it is still there when the gear changes.
Which Map Do You Need?
- 1:25K shows field boundaries, small paths and fine detail. It earns its keep in complicated country: Borrowdale, Great Langdale or the steep valleys and field systems of the Peak District.
-
1:50K is the Landranger scale. For open Northumberland moorland, the Cheviots or long-distance trails, it is often all you need and costs far less.
Not sure? Our team will happily talk it through. Training and support are included when you buy from us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move a downloaded Garmin map to a new GPS?
Not normally. Downloaded maps are tied to the unit they were installed on.
What size micro SD card do I need for OS maps?
A 32GB card is the size to budget for with these maps. Choose a reputable brand such as SanDisk.
Which is cheaper, the download or the map card?
On its own, the download. Once you add the card the download needs, and if you buy a new unit with us, the GPS Training bundle is cheaper.
What happens to downloaded maps if my GPS is replaced under warranty?
They are lost with the old unit, and you may have to ask Garmin for another download. Warranty swaps are rare, but a map card simply moves across.
Do I need the 1:25K or will 1:50K do?
For most walkers on moorland and long-distance trails, 1:50K is plenty. Choose 1:25K for fine detail in complicated terrain.
Buy the map once, keep it for good - with training and support included.